Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with only 4 days left before the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh has been actively campaigning in the state urging the people to help BJP win with three fourth majority. While addressing a rally Modi had said that Himachal needs to get rid of five major challenges of mining mafia, forest mafia, drug mafia, tender mafia and transfer mafia.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and the Congress Chief Ministerial candidate Virbhadra Singh, responding to this while addressing a rally in Pandoga, attacked the BJP of deliberately trying to defame Haroli constituency over abuse of “chitta” (drugs). He said that the drug abuse problem is being raked up by BJP in Haroli. Congress also alleged that the BJP party workers are even misleading the people by putting up posters and banners, seeking people’s support to make Haroli free from the menace of drugs, mafia and goonda raj.
Attacking the BJP for targetting him over corruption cases, the 84-year-old Virbhadra Singh terms it as a political vendetta and mocks that “I haunt the BJP leaders in their dreams”. Confidently, he claimed that the Congress will once again win with an absolute majority.
The local leaders also addressing the gathering said that the people should give a befitting reply to the BJP for making such allegations. He further added that no girl will marry in this village as everyone will think that the boys here are all drug addicts and hence people to counter the BJP propaganda.
Mukesh Agnihotri, the Industries Minister in Himachal and seeking re-election from the constituency, in his statement to the press said that “We are contesting on development and welfare agenda, but when the BJP realised they cannot counter us on this, they have started to create non-existent issues like drugs.”
During the rally, Agnihotri listed down the development works undertaken by the Congress government in his constituency. He said that three degree colleges and two IIT colleges were opened. He further added that two industrial areas were set up and a Rs 922-crore Swan river channelization project was also done. He also spoke about the medium irrigation scheme and upcoming food park.
“They (BJP) cannot counter us on development agenda, which is why they are running a negative campaign. They are building their campaign on lies, but they cannot befool people who will bring back the Congress again,” he claimed.